Magic Flute

Tenor Ethan Ellis’s beautiful and pure tone, combined with his natural charisma and stage presence, led him to many roles in school and community throughout his youth in both musical theatre and choral spotlights. After completing his undergraduate studies at Cornell College with a major in both Music and Political Science, he pursued his love of singing at Manhattan School of Music. He obtained his Master of Music in Classical Voice, studying with Neil Rosenshein and Christóferen Nomura, performing The Cunning Little Vixen (Schoolmaster), and Caccini’s La Liberazione di Ruggiero (Ruggiero).

In the two years since, he has resided in Manhattan, studying with Richard Barrett. He has performed with Regina Opera in Brooklyn (Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Spoletta in Tosca, and Beppe in I Pagliacci); in Snug Harbor as Gastone in La Traviata; in roles with Chicago Summer Opera (Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw), Berlin Opera Studio (Jupiter in Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld), and the Festival of the Aegean (covering Ernesto in Don Pasquale); and twice at Carnegie Hall for featured solos with MidAmerica Productions’ Ensemble Spotlight Series. Most recently, he was the featured tenor with the New Britain Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.

Follow his developing career at www.ethanellismusic.com.

Xiaofeng Hou, born in Beijing on February 20, 2002, is a tenor specializing in classical voice. He began his vocal and piano studies at the age of 4. Xiaofeng completed his undergraduate studies at the China Conservatory of Music and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Classical Voice at the New England Conservatory of Music (NEC). He has won numerous international vocal competition gold medals and performed at prestigious venues like the Golden Hall in Austria and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in China. In addition to his performance career, Xiaofeng has extensive teaching experience, having taught at Tsinghua University and the Ministry of Education of China, as well as participating in various music education volunteer programs.

Soprano, Mandy Miklos, most recently appeared as Marcellina from Le Nozze di Figaro in Opera Aeterna’s Windy City Operafest. She earned her Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance from Belmont University, where she performed the roles of Maguelonne in Viardot’s Cendrillion, and Gigi in Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow. She has also performed various scenes from operas such as, Don Giovanni, Little Women, Amelia Goes to the Ball, Così fan tutte, La finta giardiniera, Orfeo ed Euridice, and Suor Angelica. Besides Chicago Summer Opera, she has previously been involved with programs such as Opera Lucca and Opera Aeterna. She also recently recorded the role of Lady Macbeth in an original opera titled Heaven and Hell, composed by Laura Nobili.

Soprano Melanie Athans has just completed her first year as a Master’s candidate at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of the esteemed César Ulloa. In May, she performed in the West Coast premiere of Errollyn Wallen’s chamber opera ANON. Melanie has also sung at SFCM in scenes concerts as Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflӧte and Lady With a Cake Box in Argento’s Postcard From Morocco. She was recently honored to receive an Emerging Talent Award from the Kurt Weill Foundation at the Lotte Lenya Competition. Melanie graduated with her Bachelor of Music degree from California State University, Long Beach in May 2024, at which she performed the role of Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus and sang Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 as the winner of the Conservatory Concerto Competition. Melanie has received awards and grants from The Theodore Presser Foundation, the Opera Buffs, the South Coast Symphony, and the Dramatic Allied Arts Guild.

Mia Rago is soprano from Western Springs, Illinois. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and an Italian minor from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. During her time in college, Mia was a vocal student of Dr. Mark Whatley and performed opera roles such as Romilda in Handel’s Serse and the title role in Ronald Beckett’s Ruth. After college, she traveled to Sicily, Italy and performed the roles of Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto and Suor Genovieffa in Puccini’s Suor Angelica with the Mediterranean Opera Studio and Festival. Her opera scenes roles include Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, and Servilia in La Clemenza di Tito. Mia placed first in the Beethoven Club Young Artists Competition Senior Voice Division, she was a finalist in the Peter E. Tannenwald Competition with the Philharmonic Society of Arlington, and a semi-finalist in The Orpheus Vocal Competition. This summer, Mia is thrilled to join Chicago Summer Opera where she will perform Second Lady in The Magic Flute. This summer she will also join Classic Lyric Arts in the Berkshires singing in scenes as Donna Anna from Don Giovanni and Servilia in La Clemenza di Tito. She is currently a voice student of Dr. Abigail Santos. Mia is also an indie pop singer-songwriter and released her debut EP in 2020 and is in the process of releasing singles off her debut album which is set to be released in August of 2025. Mia aims to bridge the gap between opera and alternative music through her classical training and musical intuition showing that both genres can appeal to a wider audience.

Soprano Qiuyu Li, a native of China, recently completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Shenandoah Conservatory in May. She holds a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. Qiuyu has appeared in several opera productions, including Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Micaëla in Carmen. As a recipient of the Emerging Artist Grant from the Ryuji Ueno Foundation, she has also performed in numerous concerts.

Angela Stenzel, Mezzo Soprano, is a second year graduate student at Belmont University currently studying under Dr. Savanna Sokolnicki. Most recently, Angela performed the role of Witch in Belmont Opera Theatre’s production of Hansel and Gretel, and was selected for Belmont’s Graduate Honors Recital. This summer she is performing with the Nashville Bel Canto foundation in their scenes production, showcasing the roles of Fidalma in Il matrimonio segreto, Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro, Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. She will then perform with the Chicago Summer Opera as the Third Lady in Mozart’s Magic Flute. When she isn’t performing, Angela can be found spending time outside with her husband, Zach, and their two corgis, Phoebe and Finn. She also loves to bake and enjoys reading while accompanied by their cat, BMO.

Mezzo-soprano Inhye Choi graduated her Artist Diploma and Performer's Certificate at Montclair State University, her Master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music and her Bachelor’s degree from Sookmyung Women's University in South Korea. She debuted as Susanna(Le Nozze di Figaro) with the New Seoul Opera Company in 2021, performed as Mercedes(Carmen) at the Miami Music Festival in 2022, and as Zita in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi and Buoso's Ghost by Michael Ching at Montclair State University in 2023. In 2024, she performed a variety of opera roles. Firstly, she performed as Mother Marie in Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmélites with Great Success. Also, she was doing world premier opera The Elenors as Flo in Savannah Voice Festival. In December, she performed the role of Hansel very successfully in Hansel and Gretel at Montclair State University. In 2025, she will be coming back as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro in Hawaii Perfroming arts Festival and Third lady in The Magic Flute in Chicago Summer Opera. She is very excited about it.

06/2021 International Open Vocal Competition

04/2021 Asia Final

12/2020 03/2020 Second Prize of the Art Song Category Youth Group A in the 9th

Gold Award in the 10th Royal International Artistic V ocal Competition

Gold Award of V ocal Music-Bel Canto Category of the Young Professional

Category of the 7th Macao International Arts Open V ocal Competition, China Region

Third Place of Boy’s Group Bel Canto Category in 9th Rome International

Music Festival China Audition, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

Wenxin Sha is a Chinese Baritone who has performed in numerous operas, including Die Fledermaus, Cosi Fan tutte, Don Pasquale, Die Zauberflöte, Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni. He played Falke, Don Alfanso, Malatesta, Speaker of Temple in these recent years. Wenxin has played Commissioner of Madama Butterfly in Opera Connecticut and Speaker of Die Zauberflöte in Jordan Hall and MassOpera. Sha graduated from East China Normal University in 2019, from University of Hartford in 2021, and from New England Conservatory of Music in 2023. He is attending his doctoral study at LSU. Sha is studying with and Professor Robert Grayson and Professor Paul Grove at LSU.

Korean-born soprano Boyoung Park possesses a powerful and warm voice paired with a bright personality. She developed a passion for music from an early age, participating in children’s song recordings.

During her undergraduate studies, she performed in several operas, including The Magic Flute, The Marriage of Figaro, and in student productions of La Bohème and L’elisir d’amore. Boyoung debuted at the Youngsan Art Hall and Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Korea.

She began her Master’s studies at Peabody and played the leading role of Milica in Ana Sokolovic’s opera Svadba. Also, she portrayed the Princess in Peabody Opera Theatre’s production of Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges.

Boyoung earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Dankook University in Korea and received a second Master’s degree at Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University with Baritone Randall Scarlata. She is currently pursuing a Graduate Performance Diploma (GPD) at Peabody Institute and is set to complete the program this May.

Nora Spring is a soprano, originally from Deer Lodge, Montana. She is earning a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at the Catholic University of America under the guidance of Gustavo Ahualli. Recent performance credits include: La Bohème (Musetta), the 2023 and 2024 Christmas Concerts for Charity at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Soprano Soloist), Serse (Atalanta), and selected scenes from Die Zauberflöte (First Lady). In addition to her studies in opera, Nora is a cantor and choral scholar at various Catholic parishes in the D.C. area.

Kathryn Oettel currently lives in the Whatcom County area near Seattle, Washington. She is a soprano and also plays piano. She sings in the genres of opera, sacred, classical, and classical crossover music.

Kathryn started piano lessons at age 5 and was discovered to have perfect pitch by her elementary music teacher. At the age of 12, Kathryn was introduced to the world of opera. Throughout high school, she competed in piano and solo contests, receiving highest marks, earning participation in the Washington State Solo/Ensemble competition. She also performed in numerous plays and musicals at high school and opera productions of the Pacific Northwest Opera.

Kathryn studied at Western Washington University and has graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music performance, majoring in voice.

Shinyeong Kim, a lyric coloratura soprano, is celebrated for her expressive voice and refined technique. Known for her emotional depth and technical brilliance, she brings sophistication and sincerity to every performance.

Her musical journey began in 2018 and has since taken her to stages around the world. In Finland, her luminous and comforting voice received high praise. Operatic highlights include her portrayal of Papagena in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte (South Korea, 2024) and the role of Fire in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges (Baltimore, 2024).

Shinyeong’s artistry shines across both operatic and concert stages. She has presented recitals in South Korea and abroad, offering performances imbued with expressive nuance and emotional resonance that leave a lasting impression on her audiences.

She has refined her craft through masterclasses with distinguished mentors, including Jenny Anvelt and Gianni Maffeo in Milan, Italy, as well as Arthur Levy and Joshua Greene in New York, USA.

Shinyeong holds both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Sookmyung Women’s University in South Korea, and a Master of Music degree from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. Currently active in both Baltimore, MD, and South Korea, she continues to share her artistry with passion and depth.

Natalie Mustea, a coloratura soprano hailing from the Chicago area, is celebrated for her agile voice and expansive range. Her repertoire includes standout performances as Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring and Belinda in Dido and Aeneas.

Mustea’s recent performances include her portrayal of the Angelic Voice in a new opera titled Aldegunda by Hungarian composer Péter Zombola, with a libretto by her teacher Viktoria Vizin. This role highlighted her skills in coloratura and improvisation. The opera premiered in Chicago in April 2024 and later in Hungary in October 2024. She also delivered a captivating performance as Donna Anna in the Windy City Opera Fest’s production of Don Giovanni in May 2024. Notable among her achievements is her solo performance as Olympia in the “Doll Song” with the DePaul Concert Orchestra, showcasing her prowess as a concert soloist.

Mustea holds a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from Millikin University and a Master’s degree in Voice Performance from DePaul University. Beyond her stage work, she holds an administrative position at Bach to Rock Music School and serves as the Soprano Section Leader at Village Presbyterian Church in Northbrook, IL.

Meredith Kessler is a gifted singer and pianist from the Saint Louis, Missouri area. Her music career started with piano lessons at age 5, and later joined church choirs and fell in love with singing. She completed her Bachelor of Music with an Emphasis in Vocal Performance in 2022 from Southeast Missouri State University. While at Southeast, she played the roles of Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro and Josephine in H.M.S Pinafore. She then went on to earn her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at Webster University under the study of Dr. Jacob Lassetter and graduated with departmental honors in 2025. The roles she played while at Webster were Suor Angelica in Suor Angelica and Belinda in Dido and Æneas. She is currently a Principal Artist for the Saint Louis Women’s Chorale in Saint Louis. She is excited for this new chapter in her life and is thrilled to be joining Chicago Summer Opera for 2025!

Kate Gayman is a Canadian soprano beginning her fourth year of studies this fall under Torin Chiles at the University of Western Ontario. Kate is currently completing her Bachelor of Music Degree with Honours in Voice Performance and a minor in dance. During her time at Western she has performed as Sally in Die Fledermaus, Harry in Albert Herring and was a part of both the 2023 and 2025 Opera and Musical Theatre Gala. She has also worked with director and producer, Stephen Young, playing Isabel Bruce, in multiple episodes of the Dickson and Bruce historical mystery television series.

Kayleigh Sprouse finds artistic liberty and expression through operatic and recital performances. Her most recent operatic performances includes the premiere of Tim Holt’s opera, "Nobody is ever missing" with Mind on Fire at the Voxel Theater in Baltimore, MD and Cavalli’s "La Calisto" as Diana with Peabody Opera at the Baltimore Theater Project. Kayleigh performs and curates many recitals, including The Cecilia Collective’s recital promoting the lost lieder of Josephine Lang, a program titled Yearning showcasing Schubert’s lieder and contemporary works by Wang Jie and Biedenbender, and the TENET Trailblazer’s Baroque recital Harmony of Hope. Sprouse’s career focuses on ensemble works and collaboration, exploring how multiple solo voices can create one artistic idea. Kayleigh currently performs with Peabody’s NEXT Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Beth Willer, exploring new and old works such as David Lang’s "the little match girl passion", Saariaho’s "Nuits, Adieux," Bach’s "Brich dem Hungrigen," Ockeghem’s "Salve Regina," and many more. She regularly performs with the Emmanuel Episcopal Church Choir as a core member in Baltimore, MD and performed a program of Purcell anthems, odes, and operas at the Chorworks Young Artist Program. Kayleigh is pursuing a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy under Ah Young Hong at the Peabody Conservatory and holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Christopher Newport University under Dr. Rachel Holland.

Maya Rose Brown is a rising second-year soprano pursuing a bachelors degree in Vocal Performance at Oberlin Conservatory studying under Katherine Jolly. She recently made her professional debut as the Shepherd in Palm Beach Opera’s Tosca. Additionally Maya was in the Palm Beach Opera Studio Program for two years. Her other operatic credits include Lucy in The Telephone, Laeticia in Old Maid and The Thief, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Euridice in Orpheè et Euridice, La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, Chorus in Omar, and The Lamplighter in The Little Prince. She would like to thank her professors and coaches for their guidance, and her family for their unwavering support.

Now in her third year with Chicago Summer Opera, Isabel appeared as Spirit in Dido & Aeneas and in the Ensemble of Carmen. As a recipient of the CS Music 2025 All-State Singer Award, Isabel will be attending Summer Performing Arts with Juilliard during the summer of 2025. Previously, Isabel was a member of the Voice & Opera Program at Interlochen Arts Camp performing in scenes as Maguelonne from Cendrillon and as a member of the Ensemble in Iolanthe and The Elixir of Love. As a high school sophomore, she has also twice participated as a member of the Honors Performance Series Choir performing pieces of world music at Carnegie Hall, New York. Prior to larger stages, Isabel has been seen in community musical theater performances as the Queen in Frozen, Jr., Kelsie in High School Musical, Jr., and the Store Clerk in Legally Blonde, Jr., and as an ensemble member in Treasure Island and a short form adaptation of The Lion King. Isabel is excited to return to CSO for another season.

Hello, my name is Mia Shepel. I am a sophomore in high school at New Trier High School. Out of my 16 years of life I’ve been singing for 11, making singing one of my strongest traits. I plan on going further with classical music and opera in hopes of double majoring in Vocal Performance and Vocal Education in college. Throughout my life my choir and I have competed in multiple competitions, been to festivals in multiple countries and have been to Carnage Hall twice. I myself competed as a soloist in four competitions (one is upcoming at the time of this biography), and scored high on all. I have also been to Camp Interlochen twice in my life. This is my third ever opera, and my first ever major production in which I am extremely excited and grateful to be able to take a part in.

Emilia Bernstein, 17, is an incoming senior at San Marino High School, in San Marino, California. Along with taking regular vocal coaching lessons with Wendy Pylko, Emilia is also a chorister at the Grammy award-winning Los Angeles Children’s Chorus (LACC), where she has been studying and performing for twelve years, mostly under the direction of their Artistic Director, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz. Through LACC, she has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Maestro Gustavo Dudamel in productions of Carmina Burana and The Nutcracker, participated in Los Angeles Opera’s productions of Hansel and Gretel (2018) and Otello (2023) under Maestro James Conlon, recorded background vocals for Billie Eilish’s album Happier Than Ever (2021) at Capitol Records and debuted their song “Goldwing” at the Hollywood Bowl, and more. As an LACC chorister, Emilia has toured throughout Mexico in 2022, Spain in 2023, and the British Isles in 2025. Additionally, she is currently a member of and section leader for the San Marino High School Chamber Choir under the direction of Derek Jamieson, with whom she has studied since 2019. With SMHS Chamber Choir, she has toured in Paris (2023) and Italy (2025). Emilia was previously a part of the Southern California Vocal Association’s SATB Honor Choir (2023), and All-State SSAA Honor Choir (2024). Emilia has been a Classical Voice Semifinalist for the Music Center’s Spotlight awards in 2024 and 2025. In 2022, she won 4th place in Vocal Organization of California’s Classical Vocal Competition and an honorable mention in their Musical Theater Division. In 2024, she won second place in the NATS LA Chapter in Classical Voice. Besides classical singing, Emilia enjoys musical theater and has been in 14 productions with her school and local theater companies. Roles include: Marian in Music Man, Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Coco in Zombie Prom, Sharpay in High School Musical, Brigitta in The Sound of Music, and more. Along with theater, she thoroughly enjoys singing jazz, something she is eager to further explore.

Lila Weber is a high school senior at Arizona State University Prep Digital (ASUPD). Attending online high school has allowed her to participate in many musical activities, including volunteering at the Musical Instrument Museum, and leading weekly sing-alongs for memory care residents. She has sung with several auditioned Phoenix-area adult choirs and has been a featured soloist. Herberger Theater Center selected her as the Classical Voice winner at its 25th anniversary Arizona Young Artists’ Competition in 2025. She studies voice under Gail Dubinbaum and John Massaro.

Aurora Kondruss is a 16 year old mezzo soprano who is passionate about pursuing a career in the classical realm of singing. It will be her debute on the opera stage during this production. She’s had a vast experience in different music generes throughout her life including jazz, pop, music theatre, and even rock. Although she is new to the field she is hard driven towards achieving her goals as a classical singer and showing the world what she is capable of.

Zi Wang, bass, graduated from the Vocal and Opera Department of the Central Conservatory of Music in China. He is currently studying for a professional performer diploma at the Mannes School of Music in New York, USA. He entered the semi-finals of the Premier Opera Foundation Competition in 2024. He has played Glemin in Eugenie Onegin and will go to Chicago in 2025 to perform Simone in the opera Gianni Schicchi ,and S a rwith the Summer Opera.

Zane Brolin is a bass from Madison, WI, currently completing his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Oklahoma City University. Zane has previously appeared as Falstaff in Nicolai’s Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, William Jennings Bryan in Moore’s The Ballad of Baby Doe, and Simone in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi.

Hailing from Wisconsin, Washington, D.C. - based baritone Ethan Nott is a young performer looking to share the joy of opera with the world. A recent graduate of The Catholic University of America, he has worked with several opera companies and programs, including a previous appearance at Chicago Summer Opera (John Sorel/Secret Police Agent, The Consul) and Music on Site (Ensemble, Notes on Viardot). He looks forward to working among friends in the great city of Chicago again!

Ryan Kelly is a rising senior at Texas State University pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with an Opera Minor. He has performed in many operas at Texas State, the most recent of which was in Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortilege. Mr. Kelly has also performed in Vienna, Austria with Vienna Summer Music Festival where he performed the role of John Brooke in Mark Adamo's Little Women. He is very excited to be joining Chicago Summer Opera this summer and taking his next step towards a career in performing.

Bryan Lawrenz is a current student at Texas State University studying Vocal Performance with a concentration in opera. He is a tenor who has performed in 5 operas, most recently Ravel’s L'enfant et les sortilèges as the arithmetic, and will next be playing Giulio Cesare in Handel’s Giulio Cesare. He is getting ready to apply to grad school this upcoming year and hopes to become an active performer and a studio professor.

Ilan Balzac is a young tenor from Stow, Massachusetts, currently a student at Oberlin Conservatory under the expert tutelage of Professor Timothy LeFebvre.  His previous roles include Sam Kaplan in Street Scene (Kurt Weill) with Varna International, a world premiere of Willy in Weedpatch (Harley/Phillips) with North Cambridge Family Opera (NCFO), Tau in Rain Dance (Sturrock/Hancock) with NCFO, and Sir Diggory Piper in Cutlass Crew (Sturrock/Hancock) with NCFO, among many others.  Upcoming roles include Monostatos in The Magic Flute (Mozart) with Chicago Summer Opera and Colin in L’Amant Anonyme (Chevalier de Saint-Georges) with Oberlin Opera.  Ilan has long been dedicated to singing, having performed opera and musical theatre since age 7. He has previously studied with William McGraw, Penelope Bitzas, and Reneé Tatum.  He is very excited to find himself pursuing his passion of operatic performance and hopes to continue making his dreams a reality.

David Wang is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Voice and Opera at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, studying under Theresa Brancaccio. He is excited to make his debut with the Chicago Summer Opera as Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi and Armored Man in The Magic Flute.

He is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such a talented cast and crew and extends his heartfelt thanks to his family, mentors, and friends for their support as he continues to develop his artistry.